sandstone

American  

[sand-stohn] / ˈsændˌstoʊn /

noun

• sandstones
  plural

1. a common sedimentary rock consisting of sand, usually quartz, cemented together by various substances, as silica, calcium carbonate, iron oxide, or clay.

---

sandstone British  

/ ˈsændˌstəʊn /

noun

1. any of a group of common sedimentary rocks consisting of sand grains consolidated with such materials as quartz, haematite, and clay minerals: used widely in building

---

sandstone Scientific  

/ sănd′stōn′ /

1. A medium-grained sedimentary rock consisting of fine to coarse sand-sized grains that have been either compacted or cemented together by a material such as silica, iron oxide, or calcium carbonate. Although sandstone usually consists primarily of quartz, it can also consist of other minerals, and it can vary in color from yellow or red to gray or brown.

---

sandstone Cultural  

1. A sedimentary rock formed of sand-sized grains that have been either compacted or cemented together. Although sandstone usually consists primarily of quartz, it can also consist of other minerals.

---

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• sandstones
  plural

Etymology

Origin of sandstone

First recorded in 1660–70; sand + stone

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

sandstone sandstones

"The film Kevin has written shows Glasgow in a warm light, literally and figuratively. The red sandstone flats, Kelvingrove, the pubs – it's all there."

From BBC ● Sep. 13, 2026

But getting dressed required parental assistance, the bass pulsing off the sandstone was a techno remix of “The Wheels on the Bus,” and the drinks were apple juice and formula.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 2, 2026

In close proximity to the sandstone peaks of Zion National Park, St. George has a bustling downtown for travelers to return to after a day of hiking.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 11, 2026

This isn’t a column about aggregate—my sandstone versus limestone hot takes will have to wait.

From Barron's ● Jun. 5, 2026

Tayo used to stand in the big sandstone cave and hold the siphon hose under the water in the shallow pool where the spring water splashed down from the west wall of the cave.

From "Ceremony:" by Leslie Marmon Silko

Earth’s sands are often white and its sandstones are usually full of quartz because the mineral is common in granite and it’s very hard to degrade, so it builds up in sediments.

From National Geographic ● Oct. 12, 2023

The buried monument is two large sandstones with "cup marks" cut into their upper surfaces dating back to the Bronze Age.

From BBC ● Aug. 30, 2023

During our dawn scramble across the rocks, we had spotted numerous coal beds sandwiched between the sandstones and mudstones in the lower rock levels.

From Scientific American ● Jul. 6, 2022

At Aniakchak, he is most interested in the gray mudstones and yellowish sandstones stacked on each other like layers of a cake.

From Washington Post ● Jul. 23, 2021

Their bodies worked rhythmically back and forth, and the sandstones produced a series of harsh, grating screeches that caused icy trickles to run down Ranofer’s spine and set his teeth to aching.

From "The Golden Goblet" by Eloise Jarvis McGraw